2008–09 Dumbarton F.C. season

Season 2008–09 was the 125th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 103rd time, the Scottish Cup for the 114th time, the Scottish League Cup for the 62nd time and the Scottish Challenge Cup for the 18th time.

Dumbarton

2008-09 season
Manager	Jim Chapman
Stadium	Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton
Scottish League Division 3	1st
Scottish Cup	Third Round
Scottish League Cup	Second Round
League Challenge Cup	First Round
Top goalscorer	League: Ross Clark (14) All: Ross Clark (15)
Highest home attendance	1396
Lowest home attendance	462
Average home league attendance	712
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

Overview

Jim Chapman's first full season in charge began with a large intake of new playing staff. A slow start however was to be replaced by an unbeaten run of 8 games which saw Dumbarton rise to 2nd place by the beginning of November. Mixed results in December through February meant that Dumbarton fell to 4th place, but still in with a playoff chance. However it was to be a final surge which saw 7 wins taken from the last 8 games which pushed Dumbarton to the Third Division title. Indeed that run brought about Dumbarton's record number of consecutive 'shut-outs' - 7 in all.

In the Scottish Cup, a second round victory over Highland League opponents Fraserburgh was followed by a close encounter with First Division Ross County, which was only decided by the odd goal in three and that after a draw.

In the League Cup, Dumbarton defeated Annan Athletic on penalties, but were to be overwhelmed by Premier Division St Mirren in the second round.

Finally, it was yet another League Challenge Cup first round exit, to Airdrie United.

Locally, the Stirlingshire Cup was not competed for.

Results & fixtures

^[1]  Win   Draw   Loss

Scottish Third Division

Main article: 2008–09 Scottish Third Division

Dumbarton v Montrose

2 August 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Montrose	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Clark 83' (pen.)		Stewart 26'	Attendance: 580 Referee: S Nicholls

Elgin City v Dumbarton

9 August 2008 Scottish Third Division	Elgin City	1–1	Dumbarton	Borough Briggs
	McKay 24'		Logan 75'	Attendance: 462 Referee: C Boyle

Berwick Rangers v Dumbarton

16 August 2008 Scottish Third Division	Berwick Rangers	1–2	Dumbarton	Shielfield Park
	Gribben 40'		Lennon 55' Tiernan 61'	Attendance: 516 Referee: G Hilland

Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir

23 August 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–2	Stenhousemuir	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Keegan 71'		Motion 23' Shirra 90'	Attendance: 660 Referee: B Colvin

Dumbarton v East Stirlingshire

30 August 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–1	East Stirlingshire	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Murray 25'		McKenzie 69'	Attendance: 592

Albion Rovers v Dumbarton

13 September 2008 Scottish Third Division	Albion Rovers	1–3	Dumbarton	Cliftonhill
	Walker, P 61' (pen.)		Clark 8' McLeod 18' Gordon 60' (pen.)	Attendance: 327 Referee: B Winter

Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath

20 September 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	2–1	Cowdenbeath	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Carcary 36' Gordon 90'		McQuade 90'	Attendance: 801 Referee: S O'Reilly

Forfar Athletic v Dumbarton

27 September 2008 Scottish Third Division	Forfar Athletic	2–2	Dumbarton	Station Park, Forfar
	Russell 57' Gibson, G 79'		Tulloch 7' (OG) McLeod 52'	Attendance: 431 Referee: F McDermott

Dumbarton v Annan Athletic

4 October 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	4–1	Annan Athletic	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Watson 6' (OG) Keegan 30' Clark 34' (pen.) Hill 45' (OG)		Inglis 59'	Attendance: 539 Referee: S Finnie

Montrose v Dumbarton

18 October 2008 Scottish Third Division	Montrose	1–2	Dumbarton	Borough Briggs
	Black 90'		Clark 32' McLeod 51'	Attendance: 673 Referee: A Law

Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers

1 November 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	5–2	Berwick Rangers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	McLeod 9' Clark 19', 62' Murray 34' Cusack 75'		Anderson Craig 32' Ewart 83'	Attendance: 673 Referee: C Brown

Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton

8 November 2008 Scottish Third Division	Stenhousemuir	1–1	Dumbarton	Ochilview
	Brand 61'		Murray 62'	Attendance: 723 Referee: A Law

East Stirlingshire v Dumbarton

15 November 2008 Scottish Third Division	East Stirlingshire	5–2	Dumbarton	Firs Park
	Graham 22', 60' Rodgers 44' (pen.) Donaldson 46' Dunn 64'		Carcary 87' Moore 90'	Attendance: 516 Referee: S McLean

Dumbarton v Albion Rovers

22 November 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Albion Rovers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Clark 42'		Donnelly 37'	Attendance: 646 Referee: Mat Northcroft

Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic

13 December 2008 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	3–0	Forfar Athletic	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Chisholm 24' McLeod 67' Keegan 88'			Attendance: 539 Referee: S Finnie

Annan Athletic v Dumbarton

20 December 2008 Scottish Third Division	Annan Athletic	2–1	Dumbarton	Galabank
	Neilson 42', 90'		Clark 45' (pen.)	Attendance: 634 Referee: C Allan

Cowdenbeath v Dumbarton

10 January 2009 Scottish Third Division	Cowdenbeath	2–0	Dumbarton	Central Park, Cowdenbeath
	Adamson 18' McQuade 80'			Attendance: 416 Referee: G Salmond

Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir

17 January 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–0	Stenhousemuir	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Chisholm 42'			Attendance: 425 Referee: B Madden

Berwick Rangers v Dumbarton

24 January 2009 Scottish Third Division	Berwick Rangers	1–2	Dumbarton	Shielfield Park
	Callaghan 28'		McLeod 21' Carcary 43'	Attendance: 425 Referee: T Robertson

Dumbarton v Montrose

31 January 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Montrose	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Carcary 5'		Hunter 54'	Attendance: 652 Referee: S Nicholls

Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath

21 February 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–1	Cowdenbeath	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Boyle 33'		Dempster 57'	Attendance: 692 Referee: E Norris

East Stirlingshire v Dumbarton

28 February 2009 Scottish Third Division	East Stirlingshire	3–1	Dumbarton	Firs Park
	Stevenson 5' Cramb 67' (pen.) Rodgers 87'		Clark 39'	Attendance: 526 Referee: C Brown

Dumbarton v East Stirlingshire

3 March 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	2–0	East Stirlingshire	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	McLaughlin 22' Craig 32'			Attendance: 462

Dumbarton v Albion Rovers

7 March 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	1–0	Albion Rovers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Boyle 68'			Attendance: 692 Referee: J McKendrick

Dumbarton v Elgin City

10 March 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	2–0	Elgin City	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	McLaughlin 35' Carcary 67'			Attendance: 471 Referee: N Watters

Montrose v Dumbarton

14 March 2009 Scottish Third Division	Montrose	1–0	Dumbarton	Links Park
	McKenzie 65'			Attendance: 343 Referee: Mat Northcroft

Albion Rovers v Dumbarton

17 March 2009 Scottish Third Division	Albion Rovers	1–1	Dumbarton	Cliftonhill
	Barr 71'		Clark 90'	Attendance: 535 Referee: G Hilland

Dumbarton v Annan Athletic

21 March 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	0–2	Annan Athletic	Dumbarton Football Stadium
			Neilson 20' Jack 39'	Attendance: 815 Referee: S McLean

Elgin City v Dumbarton

31 March 2009 Scottish Third Division	Elgin City	0–2	Dumbarton	Borough Briggs
			Edwards 39' (OG) McLaughlin 67'	Attendance: 271 Referee: G Hilland

Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton

4 April 2009 Scottish Third Division	Stenhousemuir	0–2	Dumbarton	Ochilview
			Lennon 44' Clark 76'	Attendance: 588 Referee: G Salmond

Forfar Athletic v Dumbarton

7 April 2009 Scottish Third Division	Forfar Athletic	0–2	Dumbarton	Station Park, Forfar
			Clark 55', 73'	Attendance: 513 Referee: N Watters

Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers

11 April 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	2–0	Berwick Rangers	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Forbes 15' Boyle 64'			Attendance: 702 Referee: B Colvin

Cowdenbeath v Dumbarton

18 April 2009 Scottish Third Division	Cowdenbeath	0–0	Dumbarton	Central Park, Cowdenbeath
				Attendance: 1,181 Referee: S Finnie

Dumbarton v Forfar Athletic

25 April 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	4–0	Forfar Athletic	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Smith 4' (OG) McLaughlin 25' Carcary 33' Brannan 80'			Attendance: 539 Referee: S Finnie

Dumbarton v Elgin City

2 May 2009 Scottish Third Division	Dumbarton	6–0	Elgin City	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Carcary 13', 34', 43', 66' McLaughlin 28' Murray 84'			Attendance: 1,396 Referee: E Smith

Annan Athletic v Dumbarton

9 May 2009 Scottish Third Division	Annan Athletic	1–3	Dumbarton	Galabank
	Watson 66'		Clark 23' McLaughlin 28' Carcary 88'	Attendance: 1,343 Referee: G Salmond

Alba Challenge Cup

Main article: 2009–10 Scottish Challenge Cup

Airdrie United v Dumbarton

26 July 2008 Scottish Challenge Cup round 1	Airdrie United	3–2	Dumbarton	Excelsior Stadium
	Noble 53' Cardle 58' Di Giacomo 75'		Clark 25' Carcary 43'	Attendance: 808

Co-operative Insurance League Cup

Main article: 2008–09 Scottish League Cup

Dumbarton v Annan Athletic

5 August 2009 Scottish League Cup round 1	Dumbarton	1–1 (a.e.t.) (5-4 p)	Annan Athletic	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Logan 115'		Jack 103' (pen.)	Attendance: 464

St Mirren v Dumbarton

26 August 2009 Scottish League Cup round 1	St Mirren	7–0	Dumbarton	Love Street (stadium)
	Robb 18' Mehmet 33', 50', 52' Dorman 39' Dargo 75' Mason 77'			Attendance: 1,747

Homecoming Scottish Cup

Main article: 2008–09 Scottish Cup

Fraserburgh v Dumbarton

25 October 2008 Scottish Cup round 2	Fraserburgh	0–1	Dumbarton	Bellslea Park
			Chisholm	Attendance: 517 Referee: B Colvin

Ross County v Dumbarton

29 November 2008 Scottish Cup round 3	Ross County	2–2	Dumbarton	Victoria Park, Dingwall
	Higgins 23', 57'		Carcary 80', 83'	Attendance: 1,200

Dumbarton v Ross County

15 December 2008 Scottish Cup round 3	Dumbarton	1–2	Ross County	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Gordon 46'		Brittain 24' (pen.) Hart 37'	Attendance: 557

Pre-season

Queen's Park v Dumbarton

10 July 2008 Friendly	Queen's Park	2–3	Dumbarton	Hampden Park
			Geggan Keegan Gourlay

Rangers XI v Dumbarton

12 July 2008 Friendly	Rangers XI	2–2	Dumbarton	Ibrox Park
			Keegan Gray

Stenhousemuir v Dumbarton

15 July 2008 Friendly	Stenhousemuir	0–2	Dumbarton	Ochilview
			O'Byrne Chisholm

Dumbarton v Morton

18 July 2008 Friendly	Dumbarton	0–1	Morton	Dumbarton Football Stadium
				Attendance: 562

Dumbarton v St Mirren

22 July 2008 Friendly	Dumbarton	2–2	St Mirren	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	O'Byrne Murray		Brady Molloy	Attendance: 683

Dumbarton v Hamilton

23 July 2008 Friendly	Dumbarton	1–3	Hamilton	Dumbarton Football Stadium
	Carcary		Stevenson McCarthy Akins	Attendance: 312

Rangers XI v Dumbarton

30 July 2008 Friendly	Rangers XI	1–2	Dumbarton	Ibrox Park
			Logan Tiernan

Vale of Leven v Dumbarton

14 August 2008 Friendly	Vale of Leven	1–2	Dumbarton	Millburn Park
			Weir McCuiag

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or qualification
1	Dumbarton (C, P)	36	19	10	7	65	36	+29	67	Promotion to the Second Division
2	Cowdenbeath (P)	36	18	9	9	48	34	+14	63[a]	Qualification for the Second Division Play-offs[b]
3	East Stirlingshire	36	19	4	13	57	50	+7	61
4	Stenhousemuir (O, P)	36	16	8	12	55	46	+9	56
5	Montrose	36	16	6	14	47	48	−1	54

Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:

1. Cowdenbeath were promoted due to Livingston's demotion from the First Division to the Third.
2. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams will be entered into a play-off with the Second Division's 9th placed team. The winning team will be awarded a place in the 2009–10 Second Division.

Player statistics

Squad

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Third Division		League Cup		Challenge Cup		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	SCO	Dave McEwan	27	0	22+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0
	GK	SCO	Mark McGeown	16	0	14+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
	GK	SCO	Michael White	1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Pat Boyle	20	3	20+0	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Craig Brittain	4	0	3+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Iain Chisholm	32	3	15+12	2	1+1	0	0+0	0	2+1	1
	DF	SCO	Mick Dunlop	23	0	21+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0
	DF	SCO	Ben Gordon	42	4	36+0	3	2+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	1
	DF	SCO	Gordon Lennon	39	1	32+2	1	1+1	0	0+1	0	2+0	0
	DF	SCO	Richie McKillen	2	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	DF	SCO	Michael O'Byrne	19	0	13+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0
	DF	SCO	Gary Wilson	11	0	8+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
	MF	SCO	Kieran Brannan	7	1	0+6	1	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Mark Canning	24	0	10+10	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	2+1	0
	MF	SCO	Ross Clark	37	15	30+1	14	2+0	0	1+0	1	3+0	0
	MF	SCO	Ross Forbes	18	1	15+3	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Andy Geggan	30	0	23+2	0	1+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0
	MF	SCO	Alan Gourlay	5	0	0+3	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	David Gray	9	0	2+5	0	0+1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Raymond Logan	9	1	4+2	1	2+0	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Kieran McAnespie	4	0	2+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Martin McNiff	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Ryan McStay	12	0	10+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	MF	SCO	Stevie Murray	41	4	34+1	4	2+0	0	1+0	0	3+0	0
	MF	SCO	Fergus Tiernan	7	1	2+2	1	0+2	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Derek Carcary	37	14	25+8	11	1+0	0	1+0	1	1+1	2
	FW	SCO	Paul Craig	3	1	3+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Liam Cusack	11	1	1+8	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+2	0
	FW	SCO	Paul Keegan	27	3	12+9	3	2+0	0	1+0	0	1+2	0
	FW	SCO	Denis McLaughlin	16	6	16+0	6	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Paul McLeod	27	6	19+5	6	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+1	0
	FW	SCO	Michael Moore	8	1	0+6	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0
	FW	SCO	Nathan Taylor	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
	FW	SCO	Steven Weir	1	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

^[1]

Transfers

^[2]

Players in Player From Date Mick Dunlop Queen's Park 25 May 2008 Paul Keegan Partick Thistle 25 May 2008 Dave McEwan Derry City 28 May 2008 Iain Chisholm Albion Rovers 13 Jun 2008 Mark McGeown Ayr United 13 Jun 2008 Alan Gourlay Vale of Leven 19 Jun 2008 Ross Clark Alloa Athletic 27 Jun 2008 Stevie Murray Partick Thistle 1 Jul 2008 Derek Carcary Raith Rovers 7 Jul 2008 David Gray Kilbirnie Ladeside 7 Jul 2008 Gary Wilson Pollok 7 Jul 2008 Martin McNiff Leven Valley Am 9 Jul 2008 Ben Gordon Strathclyde Univ 22 Jul 2008 Michael White Alloa Athletic 25 Jul 2008 Steven Weir Livingston 9 Aug 2008 Raymond Logan Pollok 26 Aug 2008 Paul McLeod Hamilton 1 Sep 2008 Alan Cook St Mirren Youth 8 Oct 2008 Nathan Taylor Gretna 17 Jan 2009 Ross Forbes Motherwell (loan) 23 Jan 2009 Kieran McAnespie Morton (loan) 30 Jan 2009 Pat Boyle Everton 31 Jan 2009 Ryan McStay Partick Thistle 3 Feb 2009 Denis McLaughlin Hearts (loan) 21 Feb 2009 Paul Craig Benburb 3 Mar 2009

Players out Player To Date David Crawford Queen's Park 12 Jun 2008 Tommy Coyne Albion Rovers 15 Jul 2008 Greg Cavanagh St Anthonys 1 Aug 2008 Kenny Haswell Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 1 Aug 2008 Steven Weir Arbroath 21 Aug 2008 Chris Hamilton Stirling Albion 22 Aug 2008 Alan Gourlay Vale of Leven 10 Oct 2008 Craig Brittain 2 Jan 2009 David Gray 31 Jan 2009 Jason McLaughlin 31 Jan 2009 Liam Cusack Annan Athletic 2 Feb 2009 Michael Moore Stranraer 27 Feb 2009 Axel Orrström AC Oulu David Craig Arthurlie Peter Shaw Arthurlie Brian McPhee Bathgate Thistle Jonathan Yule Benburb Craig Potter Cumnock Chris Gentile Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Paul McQuilken Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Anton Nugent Kirkintilloch Rob Roy David McNaught Vale of Leven Ryan Russell Vale of Leven Richie McKillen Glenafton Athletic Raymond Logan Michael Stokes

Trivia

• The League match against Annan Athletic on 9 May marked Andy Geggan's 100th appearance for Dumbarton in all national competitions - the 130th Dumbarton player to reach this milestone.

See also

• 2008–09 in Scottish football